Through the snow to Gastro-Pub we go...

We enjoyed a night out with Tara & Ahmed, Sara & Brian and Amy & Greg. Checked out a place that opened since I moved to Austin - Quinn's. Highly recommend it - try as you may to avoid the 3rd bottle of wine upsell.

I am in LOVE!

Meet Melina & Kosta Apostolou...

We were lucky enough to spend Christmas evening with George & Dina & finally meet Melina & Kosta. We shared a wonderful meal and great company too. The twins melted my heart - with Kosta's beautiful eyes and Melina's pout (its hilarious!). What a speacial Christmas it was...

I [heart] the Pig!

For Christmas this year, Mom & Dad got me a PIG! In my honor (becuase I love the PIG), my family donated said pig to a village in Honduras. "Each gift can give a valuable source of protein, income from the sale of offspring and manure to nourish crops and soil and increase crop yields".

What a fantastic organization - I encourage everyone to support this cause.
End Hunger, Caring For the Earth http://www.heifer.org/

Teaching a man to fish...

We spent quality time with family and snow

It took awhile, but we made it to Seattle

30 Hours, 4 Airports, 5 Planes, Enough luggage for an international trip, an all nighter in the Southwest ticket line and a bloody mary on our final leg into Seattle - we made it a few days before Christmas.

Music + Beer + Friends & Shopping = Wild and Crazy Wed Night

The Gourds.

He's not the smartest

but he's real sweet when he wants to be...

He's got cat-like speed and reflexes

Happy Birthday Evans!

Good Bye

Sadly, we say goodbye to Kyle, Missy, Avery and baby McClure too.
Joyfully, we wish them all the best in Houston.

Marcus & Connie Visit Austin

We took them to Rudy's (natch) and Mexican Martini's @ Cedar Door.
Good to catch up - it's been years.

Thanksgiving #3 - Austin, TX

Lunch with Walkers - thumbs up

More time with Lynanne, Neal and boys - thumbs up

75 degree weather on Thanksgiving Day - neutral thumbs (not sure if this was great or still an oddity to me - shouldn't it be cold and windy with some drizzle?)

Our dessert contributions (pumpkin ice cream pie and pecan pie) - thumbs down

Afternoon movie - thumbs up

Austrailia - thumbs up (but not way up as Oprah enthused)

Afternoon movie followed by afternoon nap - thumbs up

Everyone should have 3 Thanksgivings. It's the best I tell you. The best.

Dog walking is a serious task

...made more difficult by wrapping the leash around the dogs legs.

Thanksgiving #2 - Dallas, TX

Sue and her kids, and their kids (most included in photo):

Attempt #11 for a holiday card worthy photo (almost there save for grease stains and a plant headress):

Hugs from another mother:

A visit from Lynanne:

Not bowling alone. 7 kids age 5 and younger (gutter bumpers are nice):

Celebrating 2 Years

Giving Thanks

The best of friends and family too! We celebrated an early Thanksgiving in Seattle with extra special guests - - Caleb & Gavin. Festivities included: Turkey, the Pig, Olseon Hills wine, Mom's beautifully decorated dinner table, Wii bowling & tennis, crab hats, a blowout and more...

Simply the Best. Of the wurst...

Willkommen Wurstfest 2008 -

Festival of Sausage - Purveyor of meat on a stick - lovers of the Pig, unite!

1st on the List - - - Pork Chop on a Stick:

Later we moved onto 5 Meats, 1 Stick:

Should be renamed BEST-fest: Good friends, Beer & Pig

Progress?

On the heels of such historic progress, tantamount regression (failure of equality, really).

Historic. Nov 4th, 2008

Word.

NEWTON, Mass. — Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough has a suggestion for what young people can do for their country.
"Please, please do what you can to cure the verbal virus that seems increasingly rampant among your generation," McCullough implored Boston College's class of 2008 at commencement ceremonies Monday. He said he's particularly troubled by the "relentless, wearisome use of words" such as like, awesome and actually.
"Just imagine if in his inaugural address John F. Kennedy had said, 'Ask not what your country can, you know, do for you, but what you can, like, do for your country actually," he said. Graduates apparently thought his speech was, like, awesome. They gave him a standing ovation.

Fond Reminiscence...

...of Wed nights tornado and softball sized hail.

The hail destroyed the following: leaves on my Magnolia tree, the new Subaru, the old Honda, a bird, my fence, the power, and more.

Forcing most Eastside Austin residents to call: